Birthstones and Their Meanings for January through June
Birthstones are special gifts given to those given to people born during a particular month. And also these special gemstones are worn to acknowledge one's birth month. Birthstones are often associated with unique and perhaps magical qualities that are imparted to the wearer. The use of birthstones has been going on for thousands of years. If you do not like the main birthstone for your month, seek the alternate birthstone!
January - The main birthstone for January is the garnet. The name "garnet" comes from the Latin granatus ("grain"), possibly a reference to the Punica granatum ("pomegranate"), a plant with red seeds similar in shape, size, and color to some garnet crystals. Special properties of garnet include protecting the wearer from nightmares and offer guidance through the dark.
Garnets are long lasting and durable gems, with a fiery beauty. Garnets show a range of hardness on the Mohs Scale of about 6.5 to 7.5. While garnets show well in any setting, silver is usually paired with garnet. Garnets are traditionally thought of as deep red, but actually come in a wide range of colours, blue garnets being the most rare type.
An alternate birthstone for January is Rose Quartz.
February - The birthstone for February is amethyst, which is a purple variety of quartz. The mythical properties of this gem include sobriety, tranquillity, protection and heavenly understanding. The ancient Greeks made goblets out of amethyst for wine to keep themselves from intoxication. This birthstone as also been associated with improving the skin and preventing baldness, plus it will protect you from deceit!
Amethyst comes in varying shades of purple, and can be a pale lilac in colour to an intense violet with red flashes. This birthstone is very hardwearing, it has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, which makes amethyst great for jewelry.
An alternate birthstone for February is Onyx.
March - This month's birthstone is aquamarine, named from the Latin for "water of the sea." Folklore links aquamarine to the making of new friends as well as affection and love, hope and health, they are supposed to overcome the effects of poison. And not surprising, this gemstone is said to protect those at sea.
As the name of this birthstone implies, it is a green-blue in colour and has a rich, sparkling quality. Aquamarine, a transparent variety of beryl, comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Its Mohs hardness ranges from 7.5 to 8.
An alternate birthstone for March is Bloodstone.
April - Diamonds are the birthstone for the month of April. Diamonds are a form of carbon and the hardest known natural substance. The word diamond comes from the Greek word adamas which means invincible. This birthstone is linked to love, eternity and strength. And can a romance exist that does not include, diamond engagement rings and wedding bands?
Diamonds have a hardness of 10 (hardest) on Mohs scale of mineral hardness, making them the perfect birthstone to wear everyday. While diamonds are traditionally thought of as being transparent-white, the gemstone comes in yellow and brown (most commonly found diamonds) as well as blue and black. You can enjoy many different cuts of this stone, and the fiery, glamorous sparkle given off by diamonds is endlessly fascinating.
An alternate birthstone for April is Quartz.
May - This month's birthstone is the beautiful emerald. The origin of the word "emerald" is thought to be a Sanskrit word for "green". It is said that emeralds can cure many ailments, including epilepsy and eye diseases, and give the possessor the ability to see into the future. Certainly, emeralds have a bewitching, magical quality.
Emeralds are a green variety of beryl and range between 7.5 and 8 on the Mohs scale. Due to many inclusions, though, emeralds are often brittle. To hide these inclusions emeralds are commonly "oiled" - green-tinged oil seeps into the tiny cracks and improves the gemstone's clarity. Still these fiery green gems, when of the highest quality, are amazing to look at, and can be found in a variety of shapes and cuts.
An alternate birthstone for May is Chrysoprase (green Chalcedony).
June - The elegant pearl is the birthstone for the month of June, and one of the few created by animals. This gem is associated with chastity and modesty, making it something of an angelic, pure birthstone. Pearls are also linked to successful and happy marriages.
Gem quality pearls are produced by marine pearl oysters and freshwater pearl mussels. These round, stunning birthstones are known for their luster or and are found in a variety of colors, and a range of sizes. Pearls come in eight basic shapes: round, semi-round, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque, and circled. Perfectly round pearls are the rarest and most valuable shape.
Alternate birthstones for June are Moonstone and Alexandrite.
Birthstones for July through December can be found by clicking here.
About the Author: Scott Harker is the publisher of several websites including: Sherlock Holmes Pastiches, Harvest The Sun | Renewable Energy, To The Stars - Astronomy, Home businesses | Financial freedom, and Pin-up Artists.
Birthstones for January to June
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